Customers filed into Meier & Frank to see renovations

Thousands of people filed into the remodeled downtown Macy's store in downtown Portland Friday morning following a 9:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. Many were eager to see how a $100 million renovation had changed the landmark former Meier & Frank store.

"I'm curious to see how much they preserved of the old character of the store," said Susan Ray, with her daughter Katie Ray of Southeast Portland.

Macy's estimated that more than 5,000 people attended the opening ceremony, with the earliest arriving at 5:30 a.m. The company gave out 3,500 gift bags, which were gone within a half-hour of the store's opening.

Fran Casidy of Gresham arrived at 8:30 a.m. and was unable to get a gift bag. "It was really a big bust," she said.